We all seek certain things when we travel. If it’s not to catch a long-awaited Taylor Swift concert, for some, it’s to visit all the tourist attractions a place is known for. Other times, it’s to explore the destination’s finest culinary offerings. But for Cyrus Cañares, it’s cafés.
[READ: For Cyrus Cañares, his brand Travelfund by Siriusdan is but a means to an end via Lifestyle.INQ]
“I travel by coffee shop,” says the multimedia creative-turned-entrepreneur. Cañares, once a soap opera writer, began his furniture brand Travelfund by Siriusdan to finance his overseas journeys. He previously owned Wowa Kitchen x Café and while it closed in 2017, owning a cafe was always in the cards for Cañares. “As a writer, tambay kami ng coffee shop. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.”
Located at 492 Halcon, Mandaluyong in an old apartment connected to his furniture studio, Café Siriusdan is filled with thrifted pieces, leftovers from previous house constructions, and textiles from his local travels.
In an Instagram post, Cañares shares that he keeps the changes to the existing space as minimal as possible. During our conversation, he pointed to the table with the poster of Wong Kar-wai’s “In the Mood for Love.” He explains that the area was once a bathroom—hence the tiled finish—and that the chairs were taken from an old theater.
Cañares, evidently from his furniture label, has a taste for what is both vintage and colorful. Elsewhere in the space is a shelf containing books from his personal collection and various board games to pass the time with. From mismatched pieces and multicultural influences to oddly colored floors and walls, no singular corner looks similar to the other.
“I wanted the shop to stay true to my aesthetic and also the way I live, which is laidback and very much retro.”
The cafe’s selection of drinks directly takes after Cañares’ tastes. The Himalayan pink salt caramel latte is his favorite drink while the muscovado latte was inspired by his efforts of trying to cut down on white sugar. Other than that, the menu also features an arancio-based beverage that complements the bitter espresso with a citrusy touch.
Café Siriusdan’s food menu is specially prepared by Cañares’ sister Joyce, who also owns the pastry shop Yummy Bakes. The sweet and savory selection includes chocolate chip cookies and chocolate cake as well as truffle egg and chicken pesto sandwiches that pair well with the lattes and espressos.
Moving forward, Cañares wishes to feature more Filipino recipes and ingredients on their menu. Part of it includes hopefully substituting the Himalayan salt with Bohol’s asin tibuok. He also intends to have food offerings that reflect his travel history; that is, featuring his favorite drinks and bites from all over the world.
In the end, all he wants for Café Siriusdan is to be an “offline coffee shop where people can sit down, read a book, and listen to vinyl music while you crochet or doodle.”
Perhaps he has done just that.
Café Siriusdan is open from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m. from Mondays to Saturdays and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays.
